If a hoard is large enough and is not complicated by a previous monetary reform, the distribution of dates would idealistically (but never actually) be expected to look something similar to the illustration below.

Coins that were produced close to the time of burial would generally be present in the greatest quantity (and be less worn). The oldest coins would be found in lesser numbers and would be more worn.

If there is at least one coin in the hoard whose date is firmly established then the date of deposit (i.e., burial) must at least be after the known date of that coin.

The burial date is likely shortly after the time of the latest coin.

Further, it would generally be expected that there would be no "gaps" (i.e., no absences of coins over a long period).

The distribution of coins in the Coinex hoard, when attributed according to standard catalogs, is given below.

The youngest and oldest coins in the Coinex hoard are present in the greatest and least extent (respectively).

Indications are that the hoard was buried as late as the time of Ptolemy VI.

However, there is a large gap in the distribution; coins of Ptolemy V (204-180 BC) are completely absent.

A monetary reform occurred before the burial of the Coinex hoard and this could have disrupted the normally expected distribution. This is discussed in the following part (Part 3).